Welcome to The Scottish Migrants Network

Workers Rights are Migrant Rights!

Scottish Migrants Network Hosts Conference at STUC“When many of us first arrived we did not know where to go to for advice or about our rights. The network and organisations involved have helped us to link together to know our rights, organise and integrate into the Scottish communities where we live”

As the recession begins to bite across Scotland it is vital that all workers, including migrants, are aware of their rights at work. The Scottish Migrants Network (SMN) sponsored a half-day conference for migrant workers and support organisations in Scotland to share policy and practice five years after accession. The conference saw the launch of a new poster campaign to raise awareness of basic employment rights for migrant workers. The Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, spoke at the Reception and Networking event following the conference to launch the poster and the web site of the Network.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the Scottish Governments support for the poster campaign has said:

“The Scottish Government is creating a modern Scotland where people from all over the world can bring their talents and skills – make a lasting contribution, and feel they have a role to play in shaping our future.

“Migration to and from Scotland is not a new thing. For generations, people from all over the world have come here to start new lives. We recognise the need for Scotland to continue to attract skills and talent from overseas – to help us weather the current economic storm and to enable Scotland to flourish in the longer term.

“The Scottish Government’s recently launched anti-poverty framework commits us to raising awareness of workers rights. This poster campaign will help to ensure that, no matter what people do or where they are from, they are aware of their right to be protected by the laws of this country – the right to fair pay, decent working conditions, appropriate leave and holidays and reasonable working hours.”

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance that hosts the SMN, said:

“At a time of economic crisis the rights of many workers will be under pressure. Some unscrupulous employers will seek to exploit the current conditions by trying to avoid their statutory obligations. Migrant workers are especially vulnerable as they are often unaware of their basic employment rights. These posters will ensure that all workers are informed of their rights and know how to exercise them.”

Jason Bergen, Project Coordinator, Oxfam Scotland:

“The work of the Network and poster campaign will raise awareness of the basic rights all workers have concerning the minimum wage and health and safety and in particular will assist workers from EU countries who are vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers.

Oxfam works with the Scottish Migrants Network and welcomes support from the Scottish Government to reinforce the message that all workers rights must be upheld by public and private organisations.”

Mary Senior, Assistant Secretary at the STUC said:

“It’s absolutely vital that all workers are fully aware of their rights in the workplace, to prevent rogue employers from exploiting vulnerable people. The STUC welcomes this poster campaign, which provides vital employment rights information for migrant workers, to ensure that everyone gets fairness at work”.